WHO Opposes U.S. Plan to Reduce Childhood Vaccines
WHO Opposes U.S. Plan to Reduce Childhood Vaccines
Updated at: August 14, 2026 at 02:00 AM
President Donald Trump signed an executive order aiming to overhaul the national childhood vaccination schedule.
Kennedy Jr., seeks to reduce the number of diseases targeted by routine vaccines from 18 to 11 and suggests administering combination shots as separate, individual injections.
The administration frames this as a way to reduce the 'burden' on children and align with other nations.
However, the World Health Organization (WHO) and major medical groups, such as the American Academy of Pediatrics, have strongly opposed these changes.
They argue the plan lacks scientific justification and could cause confusion among parents.
Experts warn that spreading out vaccinations may lead to lower compliance, potentially sparking outbreaks of preventable diseases.
While the administration pushes for these changes, legal experts emphasize that state governments still hold the primary power to set school-entry vaccine requirements, limiting the federal government's ability to mandate this new approach.
